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Indians invite Raburn & Francisco to camp

CLEVELAND, OH - The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has signed free agent INF/OF RYAN RABURN and OF BEN FRANCISCO to Minor League contracts with non-roster invitations to Major League camp.

Raburn, 31, has spent his entire professional career to date with the Detroit Tigers where he amassed a career average of .256 (403-1573) with 95 doubles, 54HR and 216RBI in 566 games from 2004-2012 (.311OB/.430SLG/.740OPS). A right-handed hitter, Ryan hit at least 14 home runs in less than 400 at bats over each season from 2009-11 and owns a career OPS of .796 vs. left-handed pitching (50 2B, 40HR, 90RBI). Raburn spent most of 2012 with the Tigers and also appeared in 15 games at Triple-A Toledo in addition to two stints on the disabled list (right thumb/right quad strain). In his career the Plant City, FL native has appeared in 396 games in the outfield and 143 games at second base.

Francisco, 31, owns a career Major League average of .257 (395-1535) with 104 doubles, 49 home runs and 189 RBI over 542 games with Cleveland, Philadelphia, Toronto, Houston and Tampa Bay since debuting with the Tribe in 2007. Ben appeared in 235 games with the Indians from 2007-09, hitting .261 (213-817) with 58 2B, 28HR & 99RBI (.768OPS) before being traded to Philadelphia in July 2009 in a 6-player trade. He also owns a career .281 (102-363) average at Progressive Field with 13HR & 54RBI in 106 games to go along with a career .273 (187-686, .775OPS) mark with runners on base. The UCLA alum spent two and a half seasons in a platoon role with the Phillies before splitting 2012 with the Blue Jays, Astros and Rays.